Matt Barker, Sports Information Director
HENDERSON, Tenn. - Late heroics was the name of the game Thursday evening, as the Freed-Hardeman Lion baseball team picked up a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 20 William Woods University in their series opener at Carnes Field.
Connor Creasy picked up the win for the Lions after working the final two innings of the game and allowing just two hits while striking out four batters. Austin Steel got the start for the Lions and pitched a gem, working seven solid innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out eight.
Jeremy Hidalgo suffered the loss for William Woods, as he entered the game in the ninth with the score tied at two apiece and gave up the game winning run. Taran Oulton started the game for the Owls and worked eight solid innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out nine batters.
Cody Duncan led the Lions at the plate, as he went 2-for-4 on the day while eight other FHU players recorded hits in the game. Collin McPherson and De'Mikyle Holmes tallied the lone RBI's in the match-up to keep FHU in it down the stretch.
The Lions struck first in the game with a three-hit first inning, where Aden Campbell scored the first run of the game after reaching on a double to deep left field and scoring on an RBI single up the middle by McPherson to put the Lions up 1-0.
Steel kept the Owls quiet through the next five innings, however, William Woods was able to push one run of their own across in the top of the seventh inning, as Patrick Dillon crossed the plate after reaching on a walk and scoring on a passed ball to even things up at one apiece.
However, the Lions would not be denied, as they put together a one-run eighth inning to pull ahead 2-1. Josh Sears got the inning started with a single to shallow right field and advanced to second on a single by Darcy Moore. Kaimana Ancog, pinch runner for Sears, crossed the plate in the next at bat following a sacrifice fly by De'Mikyle Holmes to give FHU the 2-1 lead.
The Owls; however, would not be done, as they pushed another run across in the top half of the ninth inning to even things up at two apiece. Patrick Dillon scored the lone run in the inning for WWU following an RBI single by Frankie Valle. Connor Creasy; however, would keep the remaining William Woods batters in check to enter the bottom of the ninth inning with a 2-2 tie.
Despite losing the late lead in the top half of the inning, the Lions came back in full force in the bottom half, as Freshman pinch hitter Mason Holden got the inning started with a single up the middle. The next base runners for the Lions came in the form of intentional walks, as William Woods put Wes Brooks and Bryce Lester on to load the bases and bring up Aden Campbell.
From there, Campbell would not even be required to make contact, as a pick-off attempt to second base by Owls reliever Jeremy Hidalgo allowed Collin Baber to steal home for the 3-2 thrilling win.
With the win, the Lions move to 12-9 on the season and 4-3 in conference play. The Owls suffer their first conference loss of the season and move to 16-6 on the season and 6-1 in AMC play.
UP NEXT: The Lions conclude their three-game series with William Woods Friday with a double header slated for 1:00 PM at Carnes Field.
